Notice to Arriving Passengers

Travelling to Trinidad and Tobago for the summer holidays? Returning home after spending your August vacation abroad? The Customs and Excise Division would like to ensure that, as you pass through our stations at the various ports of entry, your experience is as hassle free as possible.

Help Us to Help You!

One of the most important things you can do to reduce the amount of time you spend going through customs is to COMPLETELY fill out the Customs Declaration Form located at the back of the C15 Immigration and Customs Form. Every passenger or head of the family travelling together with children under the age of 18 is required to complete this form. Here are some time saving tips:

1. Review your Customs Declaration to ensure that it is fully completed.
2. Be sure to sign the form and write the date before you approach the Customs Officer.
3. Keep your Customs Declaration Form and passport ready for presentation to the Customs Officer.
4. If you are approached by a Customs Officer, please cooperate fully. This will speed your processing so you can continue on your way.

Prohibited Items

To avoid the seizure of your property and the imposition of a fine, do ensure that none of the articles that you bring with you are prohibited to be imported. The Customs Act 78:01, Section 45 (1) provides a list of items that it is prohibited to import. Click here to review all of the prohibited items included in Section 45.

Additionally, Legal Notice 33 of 1984 states that it is illegal to import camouflage pattern materials [i.e. materials, articles and products in camouflage pattern of any colour] unless the Minister of National Security certifies that the importation is for the use of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. (Please see the Customs Notice on Camouflage for details and penalties.)
Should you be in doubt as to what you can or cannot import into Trinidad and Tobago, please contact the Communications Unit(communicationsunit@customs.gov.tt), of the Customs and Excise Division prior to your arrival in Trinidad and Tobago.

Red Line or Green?

All passengers are entitled to: goods to the aggregate of three thousand dollars as a duty free gift allowance per year on personal and household effects not in commercial quantity. All passengers seventeen years old and over are also entitled to a duty free allowance per year of:

1. 250g of tobacco
2. 200 cigarettes
3. 50 cigars
4. 100 cigarillos
5. 1.5 litres of spirits or wine.

Passengers with items to declare must use the Red Line. All Passengers must declare the following:

1. Goods exceeding the annual duty free allowance of three thousand dollars ($3,000.00)
2. Currency or other monetary instruments over US$5,000.00 or equivalent, or more than TT$20,000.00
3. Commercial merchandise such as: articles for sale and samples used for soliciting orders or goods that are not considered personal effects.
4. Pharmaceuticals, narcotics and other illicit drugs, biological substances
5. Arms, ammunitions, explosives, fireworks, toy guns or other weapons
6. Items for subsequent re-export.

Passengers must also use the Red Line if they are importing (i.e. bringing into the country):

1. Fruits, plants, cut flowers, vegetables, plant material or soil
2. Live birds, animals, organisms or any animal products
3. Meat, honey, wildlife products or any other food products
4. Pharmaceuticals and biological substances
5. Specimens of human and animal tissues (including blood), body discharges or similar material
6. Any culture of living bacteria, virus or similar material.

If you are in doubt, use the Red Line as this will speed up your processing time (as you won’t waste time waiting to approach a Customs and Excise Officer in the Green Line who may then send you to the Red Line to have your baggage examined).
We, at the Customs and Excise Division, are happy to serve you and we are constantly upgrading our systems to improve our customer service.
Welcome to Trinidad and Tobago!